The pediatricians and nurses of Crozer-Chester Medical Center want to make sure children are as safe as possible when traveling in vehicles. Child Passenger Safety Week, September 21 to 27, is a good time for parents to review their child’s safety in the family vehicle. Crozer caregivers want every family to remember that we must work together as a team to effectively promote adult safety belt use, as well as, child passenger safety.

With that in mind, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recognizes the ongoing efforts of medical professionals, enforcement agencies, and child safety seat fitting stations, car seat loan programs, and community organizations that work to save lives by advocating child passenger safety. Together, these members of “Pennsylvania’s Life-saving Team” work to educate and protect child passengers.

The theme for Child Passenger Safety Week 2008, “Pennsylvania’s Life-saving Team” reminds parents and caregivers that there are resources available to help them learn how to safely transport children. There are currently approximately 1,000 nationally-certified child passenger safety technicians in Pennsylvania who work to teach parents and caregivers how to properly use their child’s car seat. In addition, there are over 150 child safety seat fitting stations across the state that offer opportunities to have car seats evaluated to make sure they meet the child’s size as well as fit well within the vehicle. Throughout the year, police departments are working hard to enforce occupant protection laws with both children and adults. All of these lifesavers are working hard everyday to keep Pennsylvania families buckled up and safe.

Robert Brown, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, says, “The leading cause of death among children is accidents, and chief among those is automobile accidents. Approved car safety seats, properly used, save lives. So for our parents and others who transport children, don’t forget to buckle up.”

Fortunately, the collective efforts of “Pennsylvania’s Lifesaving Team” are making a difference. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) conducted a study to determine usage rates for child restraints and belt-positioning boosters among 16 states. The results, which were published in the 2007 Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS) Fact and Trend Report, show that Pennsylvania was ranked number one in child restraint use at 86 percent and belt-positioning booster use at 57 percent. The 2008 Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS) Fact and Trend Report shows that Pennsylvania’s child restraint use from birth to four years old increased to 88 percent and belt-positioning booster use increased to 72 percent. The usage rate from birth to four years old is a two percent increase from last year and the usage rate from four years to eight years is a fifteen percent.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, 8,325 lives of children under age 5 have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 30 years. In 2006, among children under 5, an estimated 425 lives were saved by child restraint use. Research shows that child restraints provide the best protection for all children up to age 8; after age 8, seat belts provide the best protection.

During Child Passenger Safety Week this year, it is important to remember that as children progress through different stages of growth development, their child restraint needs change. Parents must be mindful of the “4 Steps for Kids” as set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These steps will help make buckling up a lifesaving habit.

The “4 Steps for Kids” include:

• Infants ride rear facing in infant seats until they weigh at least 20 pounds and are at least one year of age.
• Forward facing toddler seats from age one and at least 20 pounds to around age four and at least 40 pounds.
• Boosters seats from about four year old and at least 40 pounds to age 8, unless 4”9”.
• Lap and shoulder safety belts at age eight or older and 4’9” tall. Children under 13 should ride in the back seat of the vehicle.

Under Pennsylvania’s child passenger safety law, all drivers are responsible for securing children in the appropriate child restraint system. All children from birth up to age four must be secured in an approved child safety seat anywhere in the vehicle. All children age 4 up to age 8 must be secured in a seat belt system and appropriate child booster seat anywhere in the vehicle. All children age eight up to age 18 must be secured in a seat belt system anywhere in the vehicle. Under Pennsylvania’s seat belt law, all drivers are responsible for the front seat occupants to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt system. All drivers under 18 y ears of age may not operate a motor vehicle in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of available safety seat belts in the vehicle.

Use it and share it with your friends. For more information about child passenger safety call 1-800-CAR-BELT or visit www:pakidstravelsafe.org.